House of Peter I

House of Peter I

source: vasileo.narod.ru

This unique structure can be referred to as architectural antiques, yet another example of Petersburg outdoor museum. The uniqueness of the monument is that it is the only pine log building, which survived from the time of the city foundation. This house used to be the first St. Petersburg residence of Peter I. It was built by the soldiers of Semyonovsky Regiment in 1703. According to the legend, Peter himself took part in its construction. Today it is a museum. The house is about 18 m long, 6 m wide and with the height of 5,7 m. The house is brick pattern painted from the outside and its interior walls are covered with canvas. There are only a few rooms all of them rather small – the study and the dining room, separated by inner porch and the bedroom. The rooms are decorated with prints, small paintings by unknown Dutch artists, objects of decorative art.

The museum’s exhibition presents household objects of Peter's epoch as well as personal belongings of Peter I and his closest associates. Visitors can see a Dutch oven faced with painted tiles and the furniture typical of Peter the Great era. The exhibition displays the boat allegedly built by Peter I himself. Some materials testify about the Northern War and foundation of St. Petersburg as well as facts on the construction and history of the house of Peter along with the 18th-century household items and things that belonged to Peter including those made by himself. One of the main museum exhibits is the plaster impression of the hand belonging to the founder of St. Petersburg.